A 27-year-old trainee veterinarian, Dr. Sameeksha Reddy, died after being attacked by a pregnant hippopotamus at the Tiger and Lion Safari in Shivamogga, Karnataka, following an incident on the night of March 19. She was taken to a nearby hospital but succumbed to her injuries the next morning.
Incident Details
According to multiple local outlets, Reddy was using a thermal scanner to check temperatures at the park when the attack occurred. Reports say she had arrived that night to tend to a sun conure (a South American parrot) and to administer antibiotics that required dosing every 12 hours. She was not formally assigned to the pregnant hippo.
Witness accounts and media reports state that Reddy asked a driver to secure a ladder so she could access the hippo's enclosure and take the animal's temperature. The hippo reportedly shook the ladder, causing her to fall into a pond, where she was attacked.
A stock image of a hippo.Credit: Getty
Response and Investigation
Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre ordered a formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death. Safari officials and supervising staff described the incident as tragic and said the government would provide necessary assistance to Reddy's family and review safety protocols to help prevent similar incidents.
“I pray that they will find the strength to bear such a huge loss,” said Dr. Murali Manohar, a retired veterinary officer who oversees trainees at the park, in a translated statement. He added that the department is taking systematic steps to prevent such incidents from recurring.
Context and Safety Questions
Reddy had begun her traineeship on February 1. Officials told reporters that the pregnant hippo had not been eating and had remained in the pond for several days — behavior that supervisors said can sometimes be normal for the species. Local outlets say it is not yet clear whether Reddy was specifically asked to enter the hippo's enclosure that night.
The incident has prompted scrutiny of the zoo's safety procedures, access to enclosures and the protocols trainees must follow when working with large, potentially dangerous animals. Tiger and Lion Safari officials and local authorities did not immediately respond to requests for further comment to People.
Note: This report compiles details from local news outlets and statements by safari staff and officials. An official investigation is ongoing.
